The Naughty People
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and fighting men.”
Joshua 6:2 NIV
His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50 & 52 NIV
Our four-year-old grandson started a story with, “the people were naughty.” Of course, that piqued my curiosity. He continued to tell me about a wall and how Jesus had to knock it down, it had to break, and the naughty people got hurt. He used parts of our marble track to act it out and really enjoyed the knocking it down part.
I soon realized he was retelling the story of Joshua and the Israelites conquering the city of Jericho. God had a plan and gave specific instructions on how to carry out his plan. The plan may have seemed strange to God’s people, but carry it out they did.
Only one person inside the walls of Jericho, Rahab, believed in God’s plan and put action behind her belief. For that reason, she and her family escaped the destruction. The other “naughty people” did not. Their demise came because they did not listen to or adhere to the instructions of the One True God.
We see Rahab mentioned again in the first book of the New Testament. Matthew lists her in the human genealogy of Jesus. Jesus, God’s plan for us. God’s one and only Son, born of a virgin, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again three days later.
We are the naughty people. We have to make a choice. Do we confess our sins and believe in the redeeming blood of Jesus as God’s plan for our salvation or not?
Accepting this truth of Jesus gives us a personal relationship with God now during our time here on earth, and, ultimately, saves us from eternal separation from Him upon our death. He extends his mercy to us. If we accept it, it leads to our deliverance.
Father, we love You and thank You for your gracious mercy.
Susan Partida
